As for the reason why the strongest man and the highest leader of the entire country had to be sent to take the risk...it was not mentioned at all.
"Tsk, that's really weird."
Qi Ji held the rough straw paper in one hand and frowned.
With her way of thinking, when examining the contents of this document, of course there are problems everywhere and everything is wrong.
The real reason why the White Pope died young... The reason why the Church of Redemption sent them deep into the unknown area of the Gray Forest to die... What on earth is in the "resting place" that makes the White Popes so obsessed...
There are too many questions that have no answers, and each one is full of weirdness and ominousness.
"If I want to be promoted to the Pure White Pope, I must receive the grace of the Pure White Gate..."
She immediately grasped a clue from the content of that thin page, as if she had found a vague direction:
"So what exactly is this 'Pure White Gate'?"
So, with doubts and thoughts in mind, she put down the paper in her hand and opened the thick stack of information that recorded the information about the "Pure White Gate"...
……
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At noon on the fifth day after the Challenger set sail, the fleet consisting of two wooden boats officially crossed the "Dusk Strait", the outlet of the Twilight Sea, and reached the closest point to the "Sea of Rage" on this route.
"Boom boom!!!"
"Long——"
"Wow!——"
"..."
The sounds of thunder, surging waves, and howling winds mixed together in a chaotic manner, coming one after another from the darkness of the southern sea, shaking the heart.
Captain Meili, the first mate, the second mate, and several strong sailors stood on the edge of the side deck, staring at the dark clouds and thunder covering the southern horizon, not daring to make a sound.
On the deck, two magic cannons and six sixteen-pound conventional cannons were all fixed, with their muzzles all pointed at the darkness in the south.
"Is this the 'Raging Sea'?"
Qi Ji stood calmly and leisurely behind a magic cannon, looking lightly at the sea in the distance that was covered by endless and never-ending dark clouds, lightning and hurricanes.
The vast blue, cloudless ocean and sky seemed to be cut in half by some invisible force.
Half of it is a calm blue sea with a scorching sun in the sky; the other half is a turbulent sea with rough waves, strong winds, and brilliant lightning, and it is pitch black.
In the sky, a large area of low, thick, depressing gray-black thunderclouds pressed down the sea area. Every minute and every second, purple, blue, or pale lightning fell, making a shocking muffled sound.
If the Challenger sailed into it, it would probably be completely shattered in just a few seconds by the knife-like hurricane, the mountain-like tsunami, and the thunder like heavenly fire.
This is the mighty force of nature that can only be contained between heaven and earth, and it cannot be contended by any mortal power.
Chapter 434 Natural Disaster
Chapter 2 will be updated at 8 or 9 o'clock.
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"It has existed since the beginning of time. No one knows what lies at its deepest point, nor what kind of energy could sustain such a terrible storm for countless years."
Meili pressed one hand tightly on the activation panel of the magic cannon, as if facing a formidable enemy:
“It is said that even the most powerful extraordinary people dare not go too deep into it, otherwise they will never come back. Pay attention and do not miss any abnormalities on the sea. This concerns the lives of everyone on our two ships!”
Today, the Challenger is only a few dozen kilometers away from the Raging Sea. Although the thunder, huge waves and strong winds there cannot threaten this side, it is the home base of the sea!
When they were still far away from the Raging Sea, they had already encountered twelve sea monsters. Now they were almost passing by the Raging Sea, who knew what kind of situation they would face?
Meili didn't even doubt that dozens or even hundreds of sea monsters would pounce on her... If that happened, she could only pray for the protection of the sea god Dicka.
A few hours later, the two ships riding the westerly wind left the dark and cloudy sea behind them.
"God of War... nothing happened!"
It was not until the black sky flashing with lightning gradually sank below the horizon that the first mate, whose heartstrings were about to break, breathed a sigh of relief and sat down on the deck with cold sweat on his head.
After the false alarm, Meili was a little bit in disbelief. She lowered her head and stared blankly at the shiny magic cannon in front of her, feeling that it was unreal.
She was of course very happy that the fleet passed the most dangerous area safely, but she didn't even encounter a mermaid... It was indeed a bit strange.
Is it really that I am too lucky?
“Actually, I’ve always had a question.”
The childish voice of 105 came from the side. Meili lowered her head and saw that the mysterious black-haired girl had walked to her side at some point, with her arms folded across her chest, and said in a narrative tone:
"What do you think is the reason for the recent sudden and significant increase in the density and frequency of sirens' activities at sea?
Although she didn't know why she asked this, Meili still answered seriously:
"Maybe their reproduction rate has increased for some unknown reason? Although sirens are an alien species, they still follow some of the habits of wild animals. Over-reproduction leading to a disaster... shouldn't be a rare occurrence."
"That's one explanation."
Qi Ji nodded his chin without comment and continued:
"But besides this...is there another possibility?"
"What?" Meili raised her eyebrows in confusion.
Qi Ji raised his hand and gently pointed with his slender white index finger at the thundercloud storm that was far behind the stern of the ship:
"If that is the Sirens' lair, then the sudden increase in the number of Sirens in other parts of the ocean does not mean that the Sirens that originally lived there... were driven out by some force?"
Meili was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood what Qi Ji really wanted to express, and was immediately surprised:
"You mean, these rampaging sirens...are all 'refugees' who have escaped from the raging sea?!"
Qi Ji shrugged indifferently, and his tone was as calm as water, and it was hard to tell whether it was a confirmation or a denial:
"It's just an irresponsible guess."
Although she said so, judging from Meili's expression, it was obvious that she had already half believed it.
She frowned, turned around and looked at the darkness behind her that was about to completely sink into the horizon. She rubbed her chin with one hand and thought for a long time, then said hesitantly:
"Then... what could have driven the siren out of the raging sea? That is an extremely dangerous place that even the legendary strong men dare not easily set foot in..."
Qi Ji withdrew his gaze from the remaining corner of the thundercloud and cast it towards the endless blue sea in front of him, breathing out as sweet as orchid:
"Who knows..."
The moment she sensed the spiritual fluctuations at the deepest part of the "Sea of Violence" that were so violent and powerful that they seemed like those of a god, a noun naturally emerged in her mind.
It is a name that strikes fear into the hearts of every living being on this continent, and it has left a profound and earth-shaking mark in the historical records of every civilization and every country.
The name is...
"Underwater disaster".
……
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……
"Boom!"
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the spacious and luxurious hall.
"Your Highness! Urgent news! Urgent news!"
The minister dressed in court attire rushed into a side hall in a hurry, knelt on the ground with a plop, and kowtowed several times to a figure in front of him in a very hurried manner.
"What made you so impolite?"
Deep in the side hall, a slightly fat man with a sad face was pacing back and forth surrounded by several close ministers. When someone suddenly broke in, his face showed obvious dissatisfaction:
"No matter how urgent the matter is, can it be solved in just a few minutes?"
This person was dressed in gorgeous clothes and looked dazzling, obviously holding a high position.
If there were a knowledgeable person present, he would definitely recognize his identity at a glance——
The eldest prince of the Krestos dynasty, a great northern country, the regent who took the throne in place of the now seriously ill old king, Prince Amantis Wanan Krestos, known as the "Mad Regent" by the outside world.
"Your Highness, there is an urgent message from Earl Milton of Mullen Territory!"
Amantis' tone was not harsh, but the minister kneeling on the ground broke into a cold sweat after being rebuked by this moody king.
He suppressed his disordered breathing due to running, took out a scroll from his arms, and respectfully unfolded it in front of Amantis:
"It is said that an extremely powerful unknown alien species appeared in the snowfields in the north of Muren Territory. Earl Milton sent troops to suppress it three times, but each time he returned in vain with heavy casualties!"
In this world, especially in the Krestos Dynasty, things like alien invasions and rebellions by local untouchables were not uncommon and were basically not worth reporting to the palace.
But the fact that such a powerful earl had been repeatedly defeated in fighting against the enemy was indeed very problematic, otherwise he would not have sent urgent messages to the palace.
Although Amantis was cruel and licentious, he was not a fool and immediately realized that there was something fishy about this matter.
He did not rush to investigate the impoliteness of the minister who delivered the message. He gave a look to his attendants, and a flattering minister immediately stepped forward to take the scroll and read aloud to the regent:
"Your Highness, a disaster has occurred in our territory that is beyond our ability to resist. The sky and the earth have changed color wherever they pass, and the city walls, fortresses, and strongholds have collapsed. We have sent out elite troops and joined forces with the Harvest Church to try to suppress it, but we have all been defeated and almost the entire army has been wiped out!
"In just three days, the 'disaster' has overturned more than half of the land in Mulun Territory, like lava passing through the territory. Only one in ten people survived. Our mansion has also been lost. Now we are taking our families and servants to seek refuge in the south..."
When he said the latter part, the minister's expression changed and his voice lowered involuntarily.
Judging from this description, it is not as simple as “failure to resist the enemy”, the entire Mullen Territory was almost slaughtered!
"Milton... doesn't he have about forty righteous mind and righteous magicians under his command? And there is also at least one 'Elucidator' in the Harvest Church in Mullen Territory... What kind of monster could make him so embarrassed?"
Amantis looked a little unhappy:
"Who will explain it to me?"
"Your Highness... If Milton's urgent news is true, then what we have to face is not just some alien species or monsters... It may be a 'quasi-natural disaster' level monster, or even..."
The minister who had just read the urgent message put down the scroll with a pale face and a trembling voice:
"This generation's 'natural disaster on land'."
Chapter 435 Coming ashore
In the next two days, the two ships did not encounter any setbacks and sailed smoothly through the last leg of the voyage. Finally, at around three o'clock in the afternoon on the seventh day, they arrived at their destination - the "Steel City", the capital of the Star Confederation.
"Huh... we're finally here."
Mary stood at the bow, looking at the prosperous coastline gradually rising on the horizon. She scanned the various port buildings that were getting closer and clearer, and let out a long breath.
When they were within sight of the buildings, it meant they were completely safe and no longer had to worry about threats like pirates or sirens.
The Iron City is the largest seaport in the Star Confederation and the third largest port city in the Northern Continent. A large number of naval warships belonging to the Star Confederation government patrol the coastal waters, guarding against any danger that dares to offend the authority of the Confederation.
Countless triangular sails dot the sea, and ships from all over the world gather here. The sailing tracks form a fan-shaped pattern that spreads to all parts of the north and south continents, and the apex is this city.
"It's really hard to describe this experience...Okay, now I have to find a way to deal with the tax collector."
Meili took a few deep breaths, turned around and said to Qi Ji, who was sitting cross-legged on the deck basking in the sun:
"Yao Lingwu, you are an 'Earth' mage, right? Do you have spells like vine binding?"
"What? What do you want me to do?" Qi Ji jumped up from the ground and brushed the dust off his butt.
"The pirate leader named Church."
Meili came over to explain, her tone somewhat embarrassed:
"I have been using spells to seal his consciousness for the past few days, and he is in a coma. However, I am not very good at spells in the fields of 'mind' and 'mutation'. His spirituality is becoming more and more resistant to my methods..."
Qi Ji nodded in affirmation. That guy had been locked up in the bottom hold of the Challenger for a while, tied up tightly with the thickest and strongest hemp ropes dipped in water, but he almost escaped last night.
If Mary had not been on her way to the bottom warehouse to reinforce the seal and arrived in time, he would probably have caused casualties to the sailors on guard.
"There are too many ships going to the Steel City. We probably have to wait in line for another half a day at the anchorage."
Meili's boots stomped rhythmically on the deck, making a thumping sound:
"And there's a spiritual organization of twelve sea monsters, a galley of unknown origin, and forty skinny oarsmen. It'll take a lot of time to argue with the tax collector..."
As a maritime merchant, Meili's team must undergo very strict inspections when entering ports in other countries, and the tax officials must calculate and pay the customs duties on the spot. This is the lifeblood of the port city and it cannot be sloppy.
